Glareless mirror using relatively rotatable polarizers

ABSTRACT

A mirror having a polarized surface cooperates with a light source for illuminating a subject in front of the mirror. A polarized window in front of the light source is provided so that the illuminating light on the subject is also polarized and the relative directions of polarization of the window and mirror can be adjusted to bring out highlights when a subject is viewed in the mirror.

United States Patent 1 J asgur [54] GLARELESS MIRROR USING RELATIVELYROTATABLE POLARIZERS [76] Inventor: Joseph Jasgur, 7673 Melrose Avenue,Los Angeles, Calif. 90046 [22] Filed: May 17, 1971 [21] App]. No:143,994

[52] US. Cl. ..350/159, 350/96 B, 350/156, 350/243 [51] Int. Cl. ..G02b5/30 [58] Field of Search ..350/147, 152, 156, 157,159, 350/96 B, 243,305

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,466,625 4/1949 Ulmer..350/159 2,776,598 l/l957 Dreyer ..350/l47 1 Jan. 16, 1973 2,882,6314/1959 Boone ..350/l57 2,943,184 6/1960 Christopherson ..350/3052,096,696 10/1937 Land ..350/l56 3,590,232 6/1971 Sadowski. ..350/96 B3,567,309 2/1971 .lasgur ..350/l56 Primary Examiner-David SchonbergAssistant Examiner-Paul R. Miller AttorneyPastoriza & Kelly [57]ABSTRACT A mirror having a polarized surface cooperates with a lightsource for illuminating a subject in front of the mirror. A polarizedwindow in front of the light source is provided so that the illuminatinglight on the subject is also polarized and the relative directions ofpolarization of the window and mirror can be adjusted to bring outhighlights when a subject is viewed in the mirror.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJM 16 1975 INVENTOR JOSEPH JASGURQAZM Q a 115% ATTORNEYS FIG.5

GLARELESS MIRROR USING RELATIVELY ROTATABLE POLARIZERS This inventionrelates to polarizing techniques and more particularly to a novelpolarized mirror.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Polarized glass and even polarized lens arewell known in the art. Generally the polarization of a glass or lenshelps to cut down glare when objects are viewed through the glass orlens. The reason for elimination of certain glare is the fact that lightreflected from various surfaces is partially polarized and by adjustingthe direction of polarization of the reflected light from the surfaceand the direction of polarization of the glass or lens, such glare canbe substantially attenuated.

In spite of the extensive work with respect to polarizing light, to myknowledge no one has yet conceived of a polarized mirror surface and itis towards this concept that the present invention is directed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accord with the presentinvention, there is provided a mirror having a polarized surface. Withthis arrangement, viewing an object with the mirror will in effectenable elimination of glare since the object being viewed in turnreflects light which can be partially polarized.

In accord with the preferred embodiment of the invention there isprovided in combination with the polarized mirror a light source foremitting light to a subject to be viewed in the mirror. The light fromthis source is also polarized but the polarization direction isdifferent from that of the mirror. By mounting the light source andmirror in such a manner that relative rotation can take place, a verycareful control of glare and the like from the subject when viewed inthe mirror can be realized.

A particularly useful embodiment constitutes a dentists mirror utilizedfor viewing tissue in the mouth. In this instance, moisture and the liketend to produce glare spots but when the mirror and light source of thepresent invention are utilized, such glare from moist areas can besubstantially eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of theinvention will be had by referring to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mirror in accord with the invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a combination mirror and lightsource showing a subject viewing herself in the mirror;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view ofa mirror and light source means inaccord with a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hand-held type mirror such as might beused by a dentist incorporating a light source in accord with theinvention; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section taken in the direction of thearrows 55 ofFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 there is showna mirror 10 having a polarized surface 11. The direction of polarizationis indicated by the arrow 12.

The simple mirror with the polarized surface a illustrated in FIG. 1 hasmany useful applications. For example, it could be utilized as the rearview mirror in an automobile thereby cutting down glare reflected fromstreets and the like when viewed through the mirror.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown a first preferred form of theinvention comprising a mirror 13 having a polarizing surface 14 linearlypolarizing the mirror in a first direction as indicated by the arrow 15.An annular light source means is mounted as by means of a casing 16 tothe mirror 13. This light source means includes an annular light sourcewhich may be made up of curved fluorescent tubes 17 and 18 indicated indotted lines. An annular window 19 in turn is disposed in front of thelight sources in a position substantially co-planar with the surface ofthe mirror 13. The window 19 is polarized in a second direction asindicated by the arrow 20.

With the foregoing arrangement, a subject such as a girl 21 viewingherself in the mirror 13 will be illuminated by polarized light from theannular light source. This polarized light in turn will be reflectedinto the mirror 13 and because of the polarization of the mirror itselfas by the surface 14, certain glary portions will be attenuated. Thedegree of attenuation can be carefully controlled by rotating the casingand annular window 19 relative to the mirror 13, such relative rotationbeing indicated by the arrow A1.

The mirror structure of FIG. 2 is ideal as a cosmetic mirror forapplying makeup and the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mirror and light source structure similar to FIG. 2but in the more conventional shape of a cosmetic mirror. As shown, thereis provided a mirror 22 of rectangular shape having a polarizing surface23 for polarizing light impinging upon the mirror in the direction ofthe arrow 24.

A light source means surrounding the mirror includes a casing 25 withinwhich are incorporated a series oflight bulbs 26. A window 27 in turn isdisposed in front of the light bulbs and is preferably co-planar withthe surface of the mirror 22. The window 27 provides a direction ofpolarization as indicated by the arrow 28 which direction issubstantially at right angles to the direction of polarization of thesurface 23 for the mirror 22.

The mirror of 23 may also be used for cosmetic purposes and in thisrespect, since it is of more conventional shape for a cosmetic mirror,it will be evident that known cosmetic mirrors may readily be adapted bysimply providing the necessary polarized surfaces for the mirror and forthe window from which the light passes. On the other hand, theserectangular configurations do not permit any adjustment between thedirections of polarization.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown a hand manipulable mirror whichmight for example constitute a dentist's mirror. This structure includesa small flat circular mirror 29 having a polarized surface 30 surroundedby an annular window 31 polarized in a direction different from thepolarization of the mirror surface. A light source means in the form offiber optics 32 has first ends terminating at the underside of theannular window 31 and its other ends terminating in a casing 33incorporating a light source such as a bulb 34. The casing 33 mayconstitute part of a handle 35 for the mirror.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the annular window 31 is of washer shape andmounted relative to the mirror 29 such that it may be rotated so thatthe relative directions of polarization may be adjusted. The rotation ofthe window is indicated by the arrow A2 in FIG. 4.

OPERATION In operation of any one of the various embodiments illustratedin the drawings, an object or subject viewed in the mirror will have adifferent appearance from that were the mirror not provided with apolarized surface. This difference is a consequence of the fact thatlight eminating from any subject is always partially polarized assumingit is reflected light from any ambient light source. Thus with themirror itself having a polarized surface and without any specialpolarized illuminating light, there will be a benefit realized by theuse of such a mirror.

When the polarized mirror is used in conjunction with a polarizedilluminating light source which light source impinges upon the subjectto be viewed in the mirror, more careful control of the subject beingviewed is possible particularly in the embodiments wherein the relativedirections of polarization'can be changed. It is well known that shouldthe directions of polarization be at right angles to each other, thelight will be substantially attenuated whereas when the directions ofpolarization are parallel to each other less attenuation will occur.

By the use of fiber optics as described in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inventionis readily adaptable to small mirrors utilized in dental surgery or inother operations wherein a hand manipulable type mirror is required. Inthis latter respect, the invention is particularly useful since tissueand the like normally exhibits glary highlights as a consequence of thepresence of moisture.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the presentinvention has provided new and useful devices incorporating theprinciples of polarization of light.

What is claimed is:

l. A viewing mirror structure including, in combination: a mirror havinga surface polarized in a first direction; a light source means; meansmounting said light source means to said mirror for emitting light in adirection to illuminate a subject in front of said mirror; and apolarized window in front of said light source means oreinted topolarize the light illuminating said subject in a second directiondifferent from said first direction.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said means mounting said lightsource means to said mirror in- .cludes means for changing the relativeorientation of said window and surface whereby the angle between thefirst and second directions of polarization may be adjusted.

3. The structure of claim 2, in which said mirror is circular, saidlight source means being of annular configurationssurrounding theeriphery of said mirror, and said window being annu ar and lyingsubstantially in the plane of said mirror.

4. The structure of claim 3, in which said light source means comprisesthe ends of a fiber optics array defining an annular configuration atthe emitting ends of said fiber optics; and a light source at the otherends of said fiber optics.

5. The structure of claim 4, in which said means mounting said lightsource means to said mirror includes an elongated handle, a portion ofsaid handle receiving said other ends of said fiber optics and housingsaid light source whereby a manually manipulable mirror structureresults.

1. A viewing mirror structure including, in combination: a mirror havinga surface polarized in a first direction; a light source means; meansmounting said light source means to said mirror for emitting light in adirection to illuminate a subject in front of said mirror; and apolarized window in front of said light source means oreinted topolarize the light illuminating said subject in a second directiondifferent from said first direction.
 2. The structure of claim 1, inwhich said means mounting said light source means to said mirrorincludes means for changing the relative orientation of said window andsurface whereby the angle between the first and second directions ofpolarization may be adjusted.
 3. The structure of claim 2, in which saidmirror is circular, said light source means being of annularconfigurations surrounding the periphery of said mirror, and said windowbeing annular and lying substantially in the plane of said mirror. 4.The structure of claim 3, in which said light source means comprises theends of a fiber optics array defining an annular configuration at theemitting ends of said fiber optics; and a light source at the other endsof said fiber optics.
 5. The structure of claim 4, in which said meansmounting said light source means to said mirror includes an elongatedhandle, a portion of said handle receiving said other ends of said fiberoptics and housing said light source whereby a manually manipulablemirror structure results.